Shackle retaining means for a padlock



Feb. 10, 1959 G. E. swANsoN sHAcxLE RETAINING MEANS FOR A PADLocK Original Filed Dec. 16, 1954 l z if FIC-3.5 /a

/A/VENTOR GUAM/AR E swA/vsoN FIG] FlG United States Patent SHACKLE RETAINING MEANS FOR A PADLOCK Gunnar E. Swanson, Middletown, Conn.

@riginal application December 16, 1954, Serial No. 475,631, now Patent No. 2,759,350, dated August 21, 1956. Divided and this application July 6, 1955, Serial No. 520,261

14 Claims. (Cl. 70-38) This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 475,631, tiled December 16, 1954, now Patent Number 2,759,350, issued August 2l, 1956, for padlock.

The invention herein set forth relates to a padlock and the principal object of the invention is to provide a padlock having a simple and reliable means for retaining the shackle in place in the body, the said means having no exposed parts at the side of the body.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and from the following description and claims.

In the drawing l have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawing is not to be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. l is a vertical central sectional view of a padlock embodying the invention with certain parts in intermediate positions of assembly, the shackle being out of its extended position. v

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the parts fully assembled and also including a dotted line showing of the shackle in its locked position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, but with the cylinder and certain other parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional'view taken along'the lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 is a face view of the shackle retainer beforeinsertion.

Fig. 8 is a left edge view of the retainer shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top viewof the retainer shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. l0 is a View similar to Fig. 7 but showing an alternative shackle retainer.

Fig. ll is a left edge view of the retainer lshown in Fig. l0.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is the body of a padlock embodying the invention. The body may advantageously v be a unitary one-piece die casting, and with one exception all portions thereof are preformed during the casting operation, Said body has a preformed vertical generally cylindrical recess 12 for acylinder, this recess being open at the bottom and partly closed at the top,

and said body has a preformed vertical hole 14 for a shackle, this hole being open at the top and substantially closed at the bottom. The body 10 has been referred to as being in vertical position and for convenience of description such terms as fvertical and fhorizontal 2,872,803 lPatented Feb. 10, 19579 ice will be used in describing other parts. These terms are intended to merely designate the relationship of parts and not to limit the scope of the invention.

A cylinder 16 is rotatable in the recess 12, the cylinder being retained in place and elfecting its functions by means of associated parts to be more fully described. A U-shaped shackle 1S is provided which is hinged and also vertically movable. Said shackle has its hinge leg 20 entered in the hole 14, the locking leg 22 of the shackle being adapted to enter a hole 24 which is in the top of the body and which communicates with the cylinder recess 12. The said locking leg of the shackle has a notch 26 for receiving a portion of the cylinder 16 so as to be locked thereby as hereinafter explained. A shackle spring 28 of conventional form is provided between the end of the shackle leg and the bottom of the hole 14. The hinge leg 20 of the shackle has an annular recess which provides an annular shoulder 30. In Fig. l the shackle is shown somewhat below its fully, extended position, and in Fig. 2 it is shown by full lines in its fully extended unlocked position and by dotted lines in its locked position.

Relative upward movement of the cylinder 16 in the recess 12 may be limited either by the top wall of the body or by a flange 32 near the bottom of the cylinder or by both. The flange 32 enters a preformed countersink 33 in the body 10. Relative rotative movement of the cylinder 16 is limited by a thicker portion 34 of the flange 32 which enters a preformed arcuate recess 36 in the body. Fig. 4 shows the portion 34 in the recess 36, the cylinder being in its locked position. The cylinder is turned counterclockwise from the Fig. 4 position to its unlocked position. The countersink 33 and the recess 36 in the body are sufficiently deep to permit limited upward movement of the cylinder beyond the normal level shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The cylinder 16 is provided with a conventional key slot 37 and with conventional transversely movable spring pressed tumblers 3S, 38, one of which is clearly vshown in Fig. 5. When the cylinder is in locked position as shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the tumblers 38, 38 extend to varying extents into a vertical locking groove 40 in the cylinder recess 12. A groove 42 is preferably provided opposite the groove 40. When the cylinder is in unlocked position, the tumblers extend into a vertical groove 44 in the cylinder opening 12. A groove 46 is preferably provided opposite the groove 44. The grooves 44 and 46 have inclined side faces as shown in Fig. 5, so that the tumblers are cammed inwardly upon clockwise turning of the cylinder from its unlocked position toward its locked position.

For retaining the cylinder 16 so as to prevent downward movement thereof and for other purposes, there is provided a retainer 48 which is radially slidable in a radial slot 50 formed in said cylinder 16. The retainer preferably has a finger 52 provided with an inner face which is inclined upwardly and outwardly at a suitable angle. The cylinder recess 12 is provided with a circumferentially extending arcuate undercut or groove 54 which is at such a level that it can receive a portion of the retainer 4S when the cylinder is fully entered in the recess 12 in the body and when the retainer is moved to its outer position.

A coil spring 56 is provided for biasing the retainer outwardly toward its said outer position and for holding it in the last said position. Said spring 56 is located between the cylinder 16 and the wall of the body at the top of the recess 1.2, the spring being compressed so that it applies downward pressure. In assembiing the cylinder and its associated parts relatively to the body 10, the parts are preliminarily assembled as shown in Fig. 1', the retainer 48 being below the groove lor ker'f 54 and therefore not entered therein. The nger 52 on the retainer engages and partly compresses the spring 56, and by reason of the inclination of said finger Athe retainer is biased for outward movement. The retainer cannot actually move outwardly until it comes into register with the groove or kerf 54, this occurring when the cylinder is at a normal or pre-established level with respect to the body. It then moves or snaps into said groove or kerf 54 as shown in Fig. 2, and it restricts downward movement of the cylinder'. The groove or kerf 54 has sutiicient vertical thickness to permit limited movement of the cylinder and the retainer upwardly from the normal or pre-established level shown in Fig. 2.

The spring 56 also presses the cylinder and the retainer downwardly. The retainer 48 has a downwardly bowed portion 58 which is shaped to provide a depending detent, and the groove or kerf 54 is formed at the bottom thereof with two openings 68 and 62 each adapted to partly receive said detent.

With the detent 58 held in the opening 69 by the action of the spring as shown in Figs. 2 '1nd 6, the retainer tends to hold the cylinder in its locked position. With the detent held in the opening 62 by the action of the spring, the retainer tends to khold the cylinder in its unlocked position. In unlocking, the key must withdraw the tumblers and it must also apply suicient force to the cylinder to turn it, the cylinder and retainer moving slightly upwardly as the detent 58 is forced out of the opening 60. Turning is continued until the detent 58 enters the opening 62 when the cylinder and retainer move slightly downwardly.

The spring 56 has a third function which is to bias the cylinder for rotative movement in the clockwise direction. The spring has an upper lateral extension 64 which engages a boss 66 on the body as shown in Fig. 2 and it has a lower lateral extension 68 which is entered in a slot 78- in the cylinder as shown in Fig. 6. While the spring biases the cylinder for clockwise movement, the ange portion 34 shown in Fig. 4 prevents such movement beyond the locked position. When the cylinder is in the unlocked position, clockwise movement is resisted by the engagement of the detent 58 with the edges of the opening 62.

The cylinder 16 is provided with a ledge 72 which is adapted to enter the notch 26 in the shackle leg 22 when said leg is in its lower position within the hole 24 and when the cylinder is turned into its locked position. In order that the cylinder may be turned into its locked position without the use of a key, said cylinder is provided with an inclined face 74 which is engageable by the locking leg 22 of the shackle as the shackle is moved downwardly, the said face 74 being shown in Fig. 3.

As the shackle is moved downwardly to its locked position as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the inclined face '74 'forces the cylinder to turn in the clockwise direction. in these positions the detent 58 is out of the opening 62 and the tumblers 38 have been camrned inwardly. The cylinder and its associated parts are therefore free to be moved additionally in the clockwise direction by the spring 56 to their locked positions.

A shackle retainer 76 is provided which is shaped and adapted to lit a hereinafter described channel in the body 10. The shapes of the retainer and of the channel therefore may be widely varied, but as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, this retainer is a vertical metal plate having in horizontal section at side sections 78, 78 and a central section 80 which is bowed toward the left. Short vertical slots S2, 82 are preferably provided near the top to facilitate bending of the central section independently of the edge sections. Preferably at least one of said lside sections 78, 78 is provided near its bottom with a small bulge 83 which projects transversely toward the right as shown in Fig. 8. As shown, both side sections are provided with the described bulges which are somewhat exaggerated for convenience of illustration. The central section of the retainer 76 is provided at the front with a groove or depression 84 which extends transversely at a position near the bottoms of the slots 82, 82. The depression 84 weakens the said central section for assuring correct bending as hereinafter explained. The central section 80 of the retainer 76 is preferablyr also provided above the bottom thereof with a resilient tongue 85 attached only at its top and biased laterally toward the right as shown yin Fig. 8.

As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 the body is provided with a generally vertical channel 86 which extends upwardly from the bottom of the body and is shaped to receive and t the retainer 76. Said channel 86 has an upper portion which terminates at said shackle hole t4, and said retainer 76 has a portion 88 at the upper end thereof which projects from said channel and into said shackle hole and is located above said shoulder 38 on the hinge leg of the shackle so as to limit upward movement of said shackle. Said projecting portion 88 is provided with a downwardly exposed face at an angle to the lower portion of said retainer.

When the retainer 76 is shaped as previously described, the channelv 86 is similarly shaped and it is preferably a slot which is closely adjacent the shackle hole 14. The slot 86 is preferably so located that a retainer in said slot will have the concave side of its bowed central section substantially coincident with the periphery of said hole 14. The slot and the hole are in communication at said concave side of the bowed portion of the former. The padlock body 10 has a transversely extending and preferably inclined wall 88 which constitutes the upper end of at least the central portion of the slot 86. The slot communicates with said hole 14 immediately below said wall 88. The slot 86 has the top of its side sections spaced from the bottom of the body by a distance equal to or slightly exceeding the length of the retainer 76. The inclined central portion of the slot is spaced from the bottom of the body by a distance less than the length of the retainer. The iiat side sections of the slot extend above the level of said wall 88 of the body.

For assembly, the shackle is positioned as shown in Fig. 1, or in any position below its fully extended position. Then the retainer 76 is entered in the slot 86 and driven upwardly therein. Fig. 1 shows the retainer in an intermediate position. When the retainer is driven above the Fig. 1 position, side sections 78, 78 remain straight .but the inclined wall 88 of the body engages the central section 80 of the retainer to deflect or bend it toward the right and into the hole 14, as shown in Fig. 2. The groove or depression 84 in the retainer facilitates the described proper bending thereof by the inclined wall 88 of the body. The at side sections 78, 78 of the retainer extend above the level where the central section 80 enters said hole 14. The portion 80 of the retainer, detiected into the hole 14 as described, is located as before stated and is above the shoulder 30 of the shackle, thus limiting upward movement of the shackle.

When it is necessary to provide specific means for resisting or preventing downward movement of the retainer 76, the bulges 83 or the resilient tongue 85 or both are provided to constitute such means. As the retainer is driven into the slot the bulges 83, when provided, are attened, thus providing frictional resistance that tends to prevent downward movement of the retainer. lt will be understood that said bulges are somewhat exaggerated in the drawing. The tongue 85, when provided, is initially'exed toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 1, and it then snaps toward the right and into the .hole-14 as shownv in Fig. 2 so as to engage the bottom of `said hole and thus prevent relative downward movement.

Figs. 10 and l1 show a retainer 90 that can be used asan alternative to the retainer 76. The retainer 90 ditters` inthe omissionof the groove or depression 84 and of the tongue 85 which may not always be necessary.

With either the retainer `76 or the retainer 90 the shackle is reliably held and there are no pins or other parts exposed at the sides of the body. Either retainer isV simple and inexpensive and it can be readily put in place.

The invention claimed is:

l. In a padlock, the combination ofa U-shaped shackle having a recess in the hinge leg thereof which recess provides an upwardly facing shoulder, a unitary onepiece body having a vertical hole therein which extends downwardly from the top and in which said hinge leg of the shackle is entered, said body having a recess therein extending upwardly from the bottom and adapted for receiving a locking cylinder and said body also having a channel therein which is entirely separate from said recess and which extends upwardly from the bottom and has an upper portion that terminates at said shackle hole, and a continuous unitary retainer entered in and substantially fitting the lower portion of said channel and positioned with its lower end substantially ilush with the bottom of the body, said unitary retainer being secured in place in said channel and having a portion at the upper end thereof which projects from said channel and into said shackle hole and is located above said shoulder on the hinge leg of the shackle so as to limit upward movement of said shackle.

2. In a padlock, the combination of a U-shaped shackle having a recess in the hinge leg thereof which recess provides an upwardly facing shoulder, a unitary onepiece body having a vertical hole therein which extends downwardly from the top and in which said hinge leg of the shackle is entered, said body having a recess therein extending upwardly from the bottom and adapted for receiving a locking cylinder and said body also having a channel therein which is entirely separate from said recess and which extends upwardly from the bottom and has an upper portion that terminates at said shackle hole, and a continuous unitary retainer entered in and substantially tting the lower portion of said channel and positioned with its lower end substantially hush with the bottom of the body,said unitary retainer being secured in place in said channel and having a portion at the upper end thereof which projects from said channel and into said shackle hole and which is provided with a downwardly exposed face at an obtuse angle to the lower portion of said retainer and located above said shoulder on the hinge leg of the shackle so as to limit upward movement of said shackle.

3. In a padlock, the combination of a U-shaped shackle having a recess in the hinge leg thereof which recess provides an upwardly facing shoulder, a unitary onepiece body having a hole thereinv which extends downwardly from the top and in which said hinge leg of the shackle is entered, said body having a recess therein extending upwardly from the bottom and adapted for receiving a locking cylinder and said body also having a generally vertical slot therein which is entirely separate from said recess and which extends upwardly from the bottom and said body having a transversely extending wall constituting the upper end of at least a portion of said slot which slot communicates with said hole immediately below said wall, and a continuous unitary retainer entered in and substantially iitting said slot and positioned with its lower end substantially flush with the bottom of the body, said retainer being secured in place in said slot and having a portion thereof extending transversely in conformity with said transversely extending wall of the body and said retainer having the upper end of said transversely extending portion projecting from said slot and into said hole above said shoulder on the hinge leg of the shackle.

4. In a padlock, the combination of a U-shaped shackle having avrecess in the hinge leg thereof which recess `provides 'an upwardly Vfacing shoulder, Aa unitary onepiece body having a hole therein which extends downwardly from the top and in. which said hinge legof the shackle is entered, said body having a recess therein ex tending upwardly from the bottom and adapted for receiving a locking cylinder and said body also having a generally vertical slot therein which is entirely separate from said recess and is located closely adjacent said hole and said body having a transversely inclined wall constituting the upper end of at least a portion of said slot which slot communicates with said hole immediately below said wall, and a continuous unitary retainer entered'in and substantially fitting said slot and positioned with its lower end substantially Vflush with the bottom of the body, said retainer being secured in place in said slot Y andj having an upper portion thereof inclined in conformity with'the inclination of said wall of the body and said retainer having the upper end of said inclined portion projecting from said slot and into said hole above said shoulder on t'he hinge leg of the shackle.

5. In a padlock, the combination of a U-shaped shackle having a recess in the hinge leg thereof which recess provides an upwardly facing shoulder, a unitary onepiece body having a hole in which said hinge leg of the shackle is entered, said body having a generally vertical slot located closely adjacent said hole and having in horizontal section two ilat side sections and a bowed central section so located that the concave side of the bow is substantially coincident with the periphery of the hole, said body having a transversely inclined wall constituting the upper end of said central section of the slot which central section of the slot communicates with said hole immediately below said wall, and a retainer having substantially the same shape as the slot in horizontal section and entered in said slot with its lower end substantially flush with the bottom of the body, said retainer having the major portions of its side and central sections straight and having the upper portion of its central section inclined in conformity with said inclination of said wall of the body and said retainer having the upper end of said inclined central portion projecting from said slot and into said hole above said shoulder on the hinge leg of the shackle.

6. A padlock as set forth vin claim 5, wherein said central section of the retainer has a transverse depression at the juncture between the straight portion thereof and inclined portion thereof.

7. A padlock as set forth in claim 5, wherein the iiat side portions of the slot extend above the level of said wall of the body, and wherein the at side portions of the retainer extend above the last said level.

S. A padlock as set forth in claim' 5, wherein at least one of said side sections of the retainer is provided with an initial transverse bulge which is flattened by the walls of the slot and which frictionally resists downward movement of the retainer.

9. A padlock as set forth in claim 5, wherein the hole terminates about the bottom of the body and has a bottom wall, and wherein the central section of the retainer is provided with a resilient tongue which is laterally inclined and is entered in said hole, said tongue being engageable with the bottom wall of the hole to positively prevent downward movement of the retainer.

10. A shackle retainer for use in a padlock, comprising a metallic sheet having in horizontal section two flat side sections and a bowed central section, said sheet being provided with two vertical slots extending downwardly from the top and separating the upper portions of said side sections from the upper portion of said central section.

1l. A shackle retainer as set forth in claim l0, wherein the metallic sheet has a transverse depression in the central section thereof near the bottoms of said vertical slots.

12. A shackle retainer as set forth in claim l0, wherein Vestenos `Vat least one of said side sections is provided with a transshackle is entered, said body having a recess therein extending upwardly from the bottom and adapted for receiving a locking cylinder and-said body also having a slot therein which is entirely separate from said recess and which extends upwardly from the bottom and said body having a transversely extending wall constituting the upper end of at least a portion of said slot which slot communicates with said hole immediately below said wall, and a continuous unitary retainer entered in and substantially lling said slot and positioned with its lower end substantially flush with the bottomof the body, said retainer being secured in place in said slot and having its upper end projecting from said slot into said shackle hole above said shoulder on the hinge leg of the shackle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,703,790 Soley Feb. 26, 1929 1,938,941 Soref Dec. 12, 1933 2,116,965 Schoorel et al. f May 10, 1938 2,282,983 Lach May 12, 1942 2,489,484 Dyson Nov. 29, 1949 2,673,458

Schlage Mar. 30, 1954 

